Margolies criticizes Boyle's voting record on abortion rights

Marjorie Margolies, Democratic candidate for the U.S. House of Representative from Pennsylvania’s 13th District, criticizes fellow Democratic candidate Brendan Boyle’s voting record on abortion rights during press conference outside the Montgomery County Court House in Norristown May 8, 2014. In background in county Commissioner Leslie Richards. Photo by Gene Walsh/Times Herald Staff.

NORRISTOWN — U.S. House of Representatives hopeful Marjorie Margolies Thursday criticized state Rep. Brendan Boyle (D-170th Dist.), one of her opponents in the upcoming Democratic primary, for his voting record, at the state level, on the issue of abortion rights.

“Two days ago a super PAC started running ads in this race telling voters that millionaires are attacking Brendan Boyle,” Margolies said at a campaign event in front of the Montgomery County Court House. “The ad says that Brendan Boyle, and I quote, ‘will fight for a woman’s right to choose and defend Planned Parenthood.’ In 2011 Brendan Boyle had his chance to do just that. He had his chance to fight for a woman’s right to choose. He had his chance to defend Planned Parenthood, and what did Brendan Boyle do? He cut and he ran on us.”

Margolies and Boyle are seeking the Democratic nomination for Congress from Pennsylvania’s 13th District.

In 2011, Boyle voted for Act 122, which calls for regulations and unannounced inspections for abortion centers in Pennsylvania, Margolies said. According to a document from the Pennsylvania Pro-Life Federation, six abortion centers have been closed down since the act became law in December 2012.

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“My message to Brendan Boyle today is perfectly clear, you had your chance to stand with women, to take on Pennsylvania’s Pro-Life Federation and you stood with them, not with us,” Margolies said. “Having been a member of Congress, I can tell you that Brendan Boyle is on the wrong side of this issue.”

“I’m proud to be here today to support Marjorie Margolies as the next congressperson for the 13th District,” commissioners’ Vice Chairwoman Leslie Richards said. “Right now, the 13th District is the only one in Pennsylvania sending a woman to Washington to represent them. For those of you who care about making a woman’s voice heard, this is an important race.”

Richards said the county needs to be represented by a woman with a strong “voice for choice.”

“Our congress person needs to be Marjorie Margolies,” Richards said.

Joanne Olszewski, a Montgomery County jury commissioner, said when Margolies was in the U.S. House of Representatives representing the 13th District in the 1990s, millions benefited from her expertise.

“It was a great time because she was so good to the county as far as bringing home what needed to be brought back to the county,” Olszewski said.

Margolies was elected into the seat for the 13th District in 1992, but lost her re-election bid in 1994.

In response to Margolies’ attacks, a staffer from the Boyle campaign handed out an open letter from pro-choice women in the 13th District asking all candidates for the seat to stop attacking Boyle over his record on women’s choice issues.

“Your attacks on Brendan are counter-productive and ignore the facts. We trust Brendan Boyle to continue fighting for women’s rights,” the letter reads. “He has stood up to Gov. Corbett in defense of women’s health care and has been a leader on issues such as pay-equity, fairness in the workplace and funding to fight domestic violence,” the letter reads.

The Democratic primary race for the U.S. House seat is between Margolies, Boyle, state Sen. Daylin Leach (D-17th Dist.) and Val Arkoosh, a doctor from Springfield Township. The seat is currently occupied by Allyson Schwartz, who is seeking the Democratic nomination for governor.